Aportraitofanartinstitutionasacinematiclandscape:inasuccessionofstaticshots,JamesBenningexploresthebuildingsandterrainoftheCaliforniaInstituteoftheArts,whereheteaches.Aseriesofviewsofnaturefilmedinthesurroundingparkandwoodstransitionsintoimagesoffloors,seatingareasandotherdetailsofapublicbuildingnotmeantforshow.Inbothparts,anuncannyfeelingdominates:thegeometriesofnature,thedarkgreenandbrowntones,therushingofthehighwayinthebackgroundontheonehandandthehummingofhalogenlamps,thesoundofstepsinanotherwiseseeminglyemptyschoolontheother–itallseemstobehidingasecret.Thecamera’sgazeisalmostalwaysrestricted;itrarelypenetratesveryfarintotheimage.Itdiscoversshabbycorners,observingscenariosmorereminiscentofamysterynovelthanthecampusofanartinstitution.MoresothaninthemajorityofJamesBenning’slongerworksofrecentyears,anarrativeliesconcealedwithintheimages;everyshotcreatesanurgetomoveforward,atension,almostasifthelandscapesandinteriorswerethescenesofacrime.
